2 arrested on looting charges in Vilonia VILONIA (AP) — Vilonia police say two men have been arrested on suspicion of looting in a neighborhood hit hard by Sunday's tornado. Vilonia Police Chief Brad McNew says the two men were caught stealing copper wire and compressors from air conditioners in the town's Parkwood subdivision, which sustained major damage in the tornado. Police arrested James Steven Howard and Dustin Brooks Houston, both of Morrilton. The Log Cabin Democrat reported...

State police investigating Cedarville finances CEDARVILLE (AP) — Arkansas State Police are investigating allegations about the possible misuse of city money in Cedarville. State police Lt. Jason Aaron told the Southwest Times Record documents and evidence were seized several weeks ago through a search warrant. A special prosecutor has been assigned to handle the case. Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Marc McCune says he recused from the case because of personal conflicts. McCune says t...

NJ man accused of transporting minor for sex FORT SMITH (AP) — A New Jersey man is accused of driving from New Jersey to Albuquerque, N.M., to pick up a 14-year-old girl with the intent of engaging in sexual activity. The Southwest Times Record reported Robert Joseph Butler, 26, of Clayton, N.J., has been charged in federal court in Fort Smith with transporting a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Authorities say the two had traveled from New Mexico through Texas and Okl...

Minnesota man convicted of premeditated murder LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota homeowner who shot and killed two unarmed teenagers during a break-in was quickly convicted of premeditated murder Tuesday, with a jury taking about three hours to reject his claim of self-defense. Byron Smith, a 65-year-old retiree who once set up security in American embassies for the U.S. State Department, shot Nick Brady, 17, and Haile Kifer, 18, multiple times after they broke into his home on Thanks...

Oklahoma inmate dies after execution is botched McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma inmate whose execution was halted Tuesday because the delivery of a new drug combination was botched died of a heart attack, the head of the state Department of Corrections said. Director Robert Patton said inmate Clayton Lockett died Tuesday after all three drugs were administered. Patton halted Lockett's execution about 20 minutes after the first drug was administered. He said there was a vein failure. The...

Employee opens fire at FedEx sorting center KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — A FedEx employee wearing ammunition draped across his chest "like Rambo" opened fire Tuesday at a package-sorting center outside Atlanta, wounding six people before committing suicide, police and witnesses said. In addition to a shotgun, the gunman also had an undisclosed number of Molotov cocktails, but he did not use them in the attack, police said. The suspect, identified by police as 19-year-old Geddy Kramer of Acworth...

1 dies from gunshot wound in Little Rock LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police say a man has died from a gunshot wound. Police spokesman Lt. Sidney Allen says officers were called to the scene shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday and found a man lying in the street with at least one gunshot wound to his torso. Emergency workers and firefighters performed lifesaving techniques, but the man died later a hospital. His name and age have not been released. A suspect is not in custody.

Little Rock police say man died from gunshot wound LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police say a man has died from a gunshot wound. Police spokesman Lt. Sidney Allen says that officers received a call about a shooting Thursday afternoon. When officers arrived, they found a man lying on the floor suffering from a gunshot wound. Allen says the man was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Allen did not say where the man was shot. The victim's name was not immediately rel...

Businessman sentenced on tax charge FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — A former businessman from northwest Arkansas has drawn a prison sentence of 21 months in prison for failing to pay $117,000 in federal income taxes. Prosecutors say 59-year-old Steven Kolb of Springdale was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks. Brooks ordered Kolb to pay $117,455 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Kolb was charged with deducting federal income tax from paychecks of his em...

Board rejects convicted inmate's request LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Pardon and Parole Board has denied a commutation request from a man convicted of killing a Pocahontas police officer. The board announced Thursday that it rejected the commutation request of 55-year-old Dwight Sullinger. Sullinger is serving life in prison after being convicted of the 1991 shooting death of Officer Scotty Bennett. Prosecutors say Sullinger shot Bennett as the officer approached Sullinger's home ...

Lawyer argues for new trial over stabbing death LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A lawyer for a man convicted in the stabbing death of a Greenbrier woman argued before the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday that the trial judge should have halted proceedings and ordered a new mental evaluation when her client experienced an apparent manic episode. Ronald Britton Jr. was convicted of capital murder in Faulkner County of the 2010 stabbing death of Michelle Asher, 20. Lawyers said he cut her throat because ...

Rape charges filed against 2 menThe Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges in Pope County Circuit Court against two men for a combined four counts of rape and one count of sexual indecency with a child. During bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center, Judge Don Bourne set bond at $200,000 for Jimmy McMullin, 31, who was charged with one count of rape. He has been incarcerated at the detention center since February with anot...

Juvenile male arrested after alleged bomb threatATKINS — Pope County authorities arrested a juvenile male after 7 p.m. Wednesday following the second alleged bomb threat at Atkins Middle School since late January. Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall said authorities received word a little after 3 p.m. of an alleged bomb threat at Atkins Middle School. Officers from PCSO, Atkins Police, Arkansas State Police and Atkins firefighters responded to the scene. According to Atkins Superintendent Mark...

Man gets 11½ years for methamphetamine conviction TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A DeSoto, Texas, man who pleaded guilty in western Arkansas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine has been sentenced to 11½ years in federal prison. Prosecutors say 42-year-old Claudie Miller Jr. was arrested in a methamphetamine distribution investigation that began in 2011. U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge says Miller was identified as the primary source for the illegal stimulant in supplying the ring. Court records...

Deputies: Man smothered crying son over video game HOMOSASSA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man suffocated his young, crying son so he could play video games on his Xbox and watch TV, sheriff's deputies said Friday. Cody Wygant, 24, is charged with third-degree murder and child neglect. He was being held Friday without bail at the Citrus County Jail. Sixteen-month-old Daymeon Wygant wasn't breathing when emergency crews arrived at the home Thursday morning. The child pronounced dead at a hospital, inv...

Bull Shoals police chief now on leave after arrest BULL SHOALSS (AP) — The mayor of Bull Shoals says the town's police chief has now been placed on administrative leave. Chief Dan Sutterfield was arrested earlier this month on federal charges of using excessive force and falsifying a report in a July 2013 arrest. He had remained working in a limited capacity, but Mayor Bruce Powell said Wednesday that the chief is now on leave. The Baxter Bulletin reports (http://bit.ly/1nsiWC1 ) that Powell n...

Man charged with stealing from church, school VAN BUREN (AP) — Police in Van Buren have arrested a man for allegedly embezzling $94,000 from a church and a school where he handled the organizations' finances. Van Buren police said John Richard Hays, 39, is charged with felony theft. Hays served as treasurer for Vista Free Will Baptist Church and as chief financial officer for Van Buren Christian Academy. Police say the theft took place over four years and that Hays was fired after church ...